tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5144266755666704992020-05-31T06:10:17.000-04:001968 Topps BaseballMy 2nd year of collecting baseball cards, and the last card set before expansion to 24 teams and divisional play. I have completed the whole set. (Series 1-5, and 7 during 1968. In my neighborhood, the 6th series was unavailable. I completed this in the 1980s.) -- 28-SEP-2009Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comBlogger248125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-60022026726219843862020-04-25T21:09:00.003-04:002020-04-25T21:50:58.889-04:00Larry Haney (#42)Check out the infamous 1968 and 1969 Larry Haney cards.<br />He’s right-handed! He’s left-handed! He’s ambidextrous! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NeZoqMo9Kvw/XqTTmFZDwJI/AAAAAAAAOfA/3LLWpn5TFRkPfpssR5_wLlxC09_lc78fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Larry%2BHaney%2B68-69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="564" height="280" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NeZoqMo9Kvw/XqTTmFZDwJI/AAAAAAAAOfA/3LLWpn5TFRkPfpssR5_wLlxC09_lc78fwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Larry%2BHaney%2B68-69.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQuk9_NgWrY/XqTTl4cqYuI/AAAAAAAAOe8/3-G-ZLecS7MpcL5HO3UovV2c4yxohNkMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BLarry%2BHaney%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lQuk9_NgWrY/XqTTl4cqYuI/AAAAAAAAOe8/3-G-ZLecS7MpcL5HO3UovV2c4yxohNkMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1968%2BLarry%2BHaney%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />Larry Haney was signed by the Orioles in 1961, and after 5 ½ seasons in the minors was promoted to Baltimore in late-July 1966. He played 20 games that season.<br /><br />Over the first 100 games, The Orioles started <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2013/11/andy-etchebarren-213.html">Andy Etchebarren</a> 86 times, <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/05/final-card-vic-roznovsky.html">Vic Roznovsky</a> 12 times, and <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2010/02/final-card-camilo-carreon.html">Camilo Carreon</a> 2 times. (<a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/final-card-charley-lau.html">Charlie Lau</a> was also on the roster, but by then he was only pinch-hitting.)<br /><br />Haney was called up in time for game #101, and over the next 2 weeks he started 8 games, giving Etch some much-needed rest. Larry started 15 times over the final 60 games (with Roznovsky making 13 starts). Etchebarren started 32 games, including a 19-game stretch that included both ends of two doubleheaders. (<i>What was the manager thinking?</i>)<br /><br />Anyway, in 1967 Haney took over as the #2 backstop, starting 45 games.<br /><br />Haney missed the first half of 1968, with only 3 of his games coming before June 28th. He wasn't in the minors, so was either injured or nailed to the bench. <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2018/05/elrod-hendricks-277.html">Elrod Hendricks</a> joined the team at the start of 1968, and with <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/06/curt-blefary-460.html">"Clank" Blefary</a> also catching 38 games, Haney was relegated to 4th-string catcher.<br /><br />After the season, Larry was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the expansion draft. He started 15 of the first 50 games for the Pilots, but by mid-June was traded to the Athletics for 2nd baseman <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2020/03/john-donaldson-244.html">John Donaldson</a>. He finished out the 1969 season with Oakland, but spent much of 1970-73 in the minors, mostly in the A's organization but also on the Padres' farm in 1972.<br /><br />Haney returned to the majors with the Athletics from 1974-76. In '74, he shared the catching load with <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2014/08/ray-fosse-184.html">Ray Fosse</a> and Gene Tenace. After playing sparsely in 1975, he and Tenace split the catching assignments evenly in 1976 (with Haney catching whenever Tenace played 1st base).<br /><br />After the 1976 season, Haney was acquired by the Brewers. He started a third of the games in 1977 (backing up Charlie Moore), He was the team’s bullpen coach in 1978 but was activated for the final 2 weeks of the season.<br /><br />Haney was a coach for the Brewers from 1978 to 1991, and continued to work for the team until 2006.<br /><br />His son Chris was a pitcher for the Royals and others from 1991-2002.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-64760047466759644462020-03-31T20:23:00.002-04:002020-04-01T10:46:24.987-04:00The 1968 Tigers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ny_DAXAT1c/XoPYFONzFaI/AAAAAAAAOSU/Ag9-JY1nkLM62_-ABZmKXcRAKXKa44F0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2BTeam%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1600" height="219" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ny_DAXAT1c/XoPYFONzFaI/AAAAAAAAOSU/Ag9-JY1nkLM62_-ABZmKXcRAKXKa44F0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1968%2BTigers%2BTeam%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The Tigers were the World Champions in 1968, beating the 1967 champion Cardinals in 7 games. In games 1 and 4, manager Mayo Smith sent his ace Denny McLain out to face Bob Gibson and lost both times. Meanwhile, Mickey Lolich won games 2 and 5. Smith switched it up and brought Lolich back early for a game 7 match-up with Gibson, and it paid off.<br /><br />Another smart move by Smith was moving center fielder Mickey Stanley to shortstop for the World Series, thereby sending Ray Oyler's .135 bat to the bench in favor of right fielder Al Kaline.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g8LMtNlAM2g/XoPYRWrnEGI/AAAAAAAAOSY/WEiaZxKVVOsiwL_G4s5g7OMC6_xZHyBqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1600" height="141" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g8LMtNlAM2g/XoPYRWrnEGI/AAAAAAAAOSY/WEiaZxKVVOsiwL_G4s5g7OMC6_xZHyBqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/12/denny-mclain-40.html">Denny McLain</a> started 41 games and posted a 31-6 record. He also struck out 280 batters, won the Cy Young and MVP awards, and made the All-Star team (obviously). In 1969 he again led the AL in wins (24) and collected another Cy Young award. <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/03/mickey-lolich-414.html">Mickey Lolich</a>'s record was 17-9 in 39 games, with 197 strikeouts. More importantly, he was 3-0 in the World Series.<br /><br /><a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/05/earl-wilson-160.html">Earl Wilson</a> won 22 games for the Tigers in 1967, and in fact was the team's Opening Day starter in 1968, but he slumped to a 13-12 record in 38 games. He lost Game 3 of the Series, the only game not started by McLain or Lolich. <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2012/11/joe-sparma-505.html">Joe Sparma</a> rounded out the starting rotation, going 10-10 in 34 games.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJHNFizv7lM/XoPYRtsOFWI/AAAAAAAAOSc/UOkHIX9wEZsNn-VKfm3oWclImjaGJKQpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="1600" height="140" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aJHNFizv7lM/XoPYRtsOFWI/AAAAAAAAOSc/UOkHIX9wEZsNn-VKfm3oWclImjaGJKQpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>These four were the core bullpen, all making 27 to 37 relief appearances. <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2018/07/pat-dobson-231.html">Pat Dobson</a> pitched 47 games (37 in relief) and had 7 saves. <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2018/12/john-hiller-307.html">John Hiller</a> pitched 39 games, all but 12 in relief. He was the top lefthander in the 'pen. Daryl Patterson pitched 38 games in relief along with only 1 start. He collected 7 saves, tied with Dobson for the club lead. <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2019/03/fred-lasher-356.html">Fred Lasher</a> chipped in with 34 games, all in relief.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uPDz89cZzeI/XoPYSHcedNI/AAAAAAAAOSg/gACMZvkHjlIYduf2RNUv5HwwvgE3q-RqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1600" height="141" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uPDz89cZzeI/XoPYSHcedNI/AAAAAAAAOSg/gACMZvkHjlIYduf2RNUv5HwwvgE3q-RqgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>John Warden pitched 28 games (all in relief) but only 37 innings. This was his only year in the majors. Veteran reliever <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2015/09/don-mcmahon-133.html">Don McMahon</a> was acquired from the White Sox on July 26th for Dennis Ribant. This was his 12th season in the majors, and his experience (and 2.02 ERA) helped out. His Tigers' record that year was 3-1 in 20 relief appearances.<br /><br />In mid-June, the Tigers acquired reliever <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/02/john-wyatt-481.html">John Wyatt</a> in exchange for Jim Rooker. Wyatt was the 1967 AL champ Red Sox’ closer the previous season, and appeared in 22 games for Detroit in the 2nd half. He was 1-0 in the 1967 Series, but did not play in the ’68 post-season. <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/final-card-dennis-ribant.html">Dennis Ribant</a> was acquired from the Pirates in the off-season, but after only 14 appearances was traded for McMahon.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSPHJ1875F4/XoPYTvUMfzI/AAAAAAAAOSk/xjHLJlroCJQy5_pE98AUf-8e6GmcgDzgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1600" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iSPHJ1875F4/XoPYTvUMfzI/AAAAAAAAOSk/xjHLJlroCJQy5_pE98AUf-8e6GmcgDzgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Other pitchers seeing limited playing time were Les Cain (8 games from late-April to mid-June), <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2019/10/jim-rooker-222.html">Jim Rooker</a> (2 games in early-July), and <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/roy-face-198.html">Elroy Face</a>. After 15 seasons with the Pirates, Face was acquired on 8/31 but only pitched 1 total inning (over 2 games on 9/2 and 9/3).<br /><br /><br />Here are the starting 8 players. The Tigers had 9 legitimate starters, and they tried to fit 4 quality outfielders into 3 spots.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue914UHmRbc/XoPYoBl7q2I/AAAAAAAAOTE/8y2QHUJlQLMJOlmj1UBMLrIwjMeUnKXSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ue914UHmRbc/XoPYoBl7q2I/AAAAAAAAOTE/8y2QHUJlQLMJOlmj1UBMLrIwjMeUnKXSACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2014/05/bill-freehan-145.html">Bill Freehan</a> was an All-Star every year from 1963-73, and again in 1975. He was also the Gold Glove catcher every season from 1965-69. <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2014/02/norm-cash-540.html">Norm Cash</a> was limited to 127 games in 1968, but still hit 25 homers, tied for 2nd on the team with Freehan.<br /><br /><a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2015/10/dick-mcauliffe-495.html">Dick McAuliffe</a> was an All-Star from 1965-67 (mostly at shortstop) but was the full-time 2nd baseman in 1968. He was the leadoff batter and led the AL with 95 runs scored. Pretty good for only batting .249. <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2017/08/ray-oyler-81.html">Ray Oyler</a> started 70 games at shortstop, the most for any Tiger. He and his .135 batting average were always found in the #8 spot. (He must have been a terrific fielder!)<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_9dUBa20MUc/XoPYmsU_f0I/AAAAAAAAOS8/ZQgJoxe6h9wiV_h-e7plw-wJkXP-3iY8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_9dUBa20MUc/XoPYmsU_f0I/AAAAAAAAOS8/ZQgJoxe6h9wiV_h-e7plw-wJkXP-3iY8QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2016/12/don-wert-511.html">Don Wert</a> started 147 games at 3rd base, and somehow made the All-Star team, despite his .200 batting average. <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2014/02/willie-horton-20.html">Willie Horton</a> led the team with 36 home runs and was 2nd in RBI (85). He started 137 games in left field.<br /><br /><a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/03/mickey-stanley-13.html">Mickey Stanley</a> was the Gold Glove center fielder from 1968-70, and 1973. He started 119 games in center, his first as a full-time regular. <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2015/10/jim-northrup-78.html">Jim Northrup</a> alternated between right field (96 starts) and center field (45). His 90 RBI led the team. He also had 2 homers and 8 RBI in the World Series.<br /><br /><br />The subs (in order of at-bats):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cSGQUzXi7xA/XoPYoeUrkAI/AAAAAAAAOTA/We4qfQS2-m4sWu_hcbyApf3alHKn_7ncQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cSGQUzXi7xA/XoPYoeUrkAI/AAAAAAAAOTA/We4qfQS2-m4sWu_hcbyApf3alHKn_7ncQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2011/07/al-kaline-410.html">Al Kaline</a> was in his 16th season, and although an All-Star every season from 1955-67, he was limited to 102 games in 1968. Along with 67 starts in right field, he started 18 games at 1st base. He matched Northrup's 2 homers and 8 RBI in the Series.<br /><br />Tom Matchick and <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/dick-tracewski-488.html">Dick Tracewski</a> were utility infielders who shared the shortstop job with Oyler all season. <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2019/04/jimmie-price-129.html">Jimmie Price</a> was acquired from the Pirates just before Opening Day 1967, and started 35 games behind the plate.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bcb-kiImNio/XoPY4fn3LoI/AAAAAAAAOTY/TfqCO7ICD4IWxrfoIEdsHkS7EqQCIxf4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bcb-kiImNio/XoPY4fn3LoI/AAAAAAAAOTY/TfqCO7ICD4IWxrfoIEdsHkS7EqQCIxf4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2019/06/gates-brown-98.html">Gates Brown</a> was the Tigers' pinch-hitting specialist, batting .370 in 86 at-bats. He also started 16 games in left field. Veteran <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-card-eddie-mathews.html">Eddie Mathews</a> was in his 17th and final season. He only played in 31 games (mostly as a pinch-hitter) and missed most of June and all of July and August.<br /><br /><a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2016/10/wayne-comer-323.html">Wayne Comer</a> played in 48 games over the final 4 months of the season, mostly as a pinch-hitter. <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2019/07/dave-campbell-639.html">Dave Campbell</a> played 9 games in early-August.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYbJGoCtweU/XoPY6Fq_UkI/AAAAAAAAOTc/EuWql4q6kroM66jDtA5DEoCelilJsUgEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="1600" height="139" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYbJGoCtweU/XoPY6Fq_UkI/AAAAAAAAOTc/EuWql4q6kroM66jDtA5DEoCelilJsUgEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2009/11/final-card-lenny-green.html">Lenny Green</a> played 6 games in late June then was released in early-July, ending his 12-year career. <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2015/11/final-card-bob-christian.html">Bob Christian</a> had 3 at-bats in a September call-up, then moved on to the White Sox after the season. <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/adventures-in-airbrushing.html">Mayo Smith</a> managed the Tigers from 1967-70, winning 91, 103, 90, and 79 games in that span.<br /><br /><a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2018/04/mike-marshall-201.html">Mike Marshall</a> spent the entire 1968 season in the minors, posting a 15-9 record and 2.94 ERA as a triple-A starter. He didn’t even get a cup of coffee in September, despite picking up 10 saves in 37 relief appearances (with a 1.98 ERA) in his MLB rookie season in 1967.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqdz6QeBITg/XoPY3cbgUnI/AAAAAAAAOTM/PtnDlnIy6n8fblINpPqVD6pWcEAjFIcKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BTigers%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="1600" height="143" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tqdz6QeBITg/XoPY3cbgUnI/AAAAAAAAOTM/PtnDlnIy6n8fblINpPqVD6pWcEAjFIcKgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BTigers%2B10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This is George Korince's third Rookie Stars card in two years. (That's right folks, <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/09/tigers-rookies-15-minutes-for-george.html">he had TWO Rookie Stars cards in the 1967 set</a>!)<br /><br /><br /><b>Transactions from the end of the 1967 season to the end of 1968:&nbsp;</b><br /><br />11/22/67 - Traded pitcher <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2014/09/fred-gladding-192.html">Fred Gladding</a> to the Astros for Eddie Mathews.<br /><br />11/28/67 - Traded pitcher <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/02/dave-wickersham-288.html">Dave Wickersham</a> to the Pirates for Dennis Ribant.<br /><br />11/29/67 - Traded catcher <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/chris-cannizzaro-497.html">Chris Cannizzaro</a> to the Pirates.<br /><br />04/03/68 - Traded pitcher <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2017/12/hank-aguirre-263.html">Hank Aguirre</a> to the Dodgers.<br /><br />04/13/68 - Sold catcher <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2011/09/bill-heath-172.html">Bill Heath</a> to the Yankees.<br /><br />04/22/68 - Signed pitcher <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2011/06/dick-radatz-174.html">Dick Radatz</a>.<br /><br />06/15/68 - Traded Jim Rooker to the Yankees for John Wyatt.<br /><br />07/06/68 - Released Lenny Green.<br /><br />07/26/68 - Traded Dennis Ribant to the White Sox for Don McMahon.<br /><br />08/31/68 - Purchased Roy Face from the Pirates.<br /><br />09/30/68 - Sold Bob Christian to the White Sox.<br /><br />10/??/68 - Purchased Dennis Ribant from the White Sox.<br /><br />10/15/68 - Lost Ray Oyler, Wayne Comer, and Mike Marshall to the Seattle Pilots.<br />10/15/68 - Lost pitchers Jon Warden, <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2014/02/bill-butler-377.html">Bill Butler</a>, and Dick Drago to the Kansas City Royals.<br /><br />10/28/68 - Released Eddie Mathews.<br /><br />11/04/68 - Traded pitcher Jack DiLauro to the Mets for catcher <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2012/08/final-card-hector-valle.html">Hector Valle</a>.<br /><br />12/15/68 - Sold Dennis Ribant to the Royals.<br />. Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-74153498669411139102020-03-26T01:16:00.000-04:002020-03-26T09:50:09.478-04:00Bill Landis (#189)Although his debut came with one game in 1963, Bill Landis' rookie season was 1967, with the Impossible Dream Red Sox. This is his rookie card.&nbsp; His only other card (in 1969) used the same photo.<br /><br />Landis was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in 1961 (<i>I did not know he was previously with the Athletics</i>), and pitched one inning for them in the last weekend of the 1963 season. Otherwise, he spent 6 seasons in their farm system.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WucR2WVoO88/XnwxRAHzuuI/AAAAAAAAOPU/AZ9IDfrl6o8W_sMJPqvoK8OdwOiMgb8sACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BBill%2BLandis%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="368" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WucR2WVoO88/XnwxRAHzuuI/AAAAAAAAOPU/AZ9IDfrl6o8W_sMJPqvoK8OdwOiMgb8sACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BBill%2BLandis%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D65u_UsesLM/XnwxROD-5rI/AAAAAAAAOPQ/0R5E3F0TvDU-S9GfJT5Oe-PHfsZTmuJJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BBill%2BLandis%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="368" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D65u_UsesLM/XnwxROD-5rI/AAAAAAAAOPQ/0R5E3F0TvDU-S9GfJT5Oe-PHfsZTmuJJgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BBill%2BLandis%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />In November 1966 the Red Sox selected him in the Rule 5 draft. He was on Boston’s roster for all of 1967, and had a rough start to his career.<br /><br />Bill pitched in 18 games (all but one in relief) in his first season. He pitched in 7 games between 4/16 and 6/10, often for less than 1 inning per game. His ERA varied from 54.00 to 9.00 in the season’s first half.<br /><br />After his June 10th appearance he was only used once until late-July. (The Sox had called up <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2013/01/sparky-lyle-311.html">another rookie left-handed reliever</a> in early July, who gave them better results.)<br /><br />Landis settled down during his 7 appearances over the season’s final 2 months. He did not make the post-season roster for the Sox (nor did Lyle, which is surprising given his 2.28 ERA over 27 games).<br /><br />Bill pitched 2 more seasons with the Red Sox, and was the 5th man in the bullpen both years, making 38 and 45 appearances. He came down with a sore arm late in the 1969 season, which would affect the remainder of his career.<br /><br />He played the 1970 season with Boston’s AAA team in Louisville, then was traded to the Cardinals for pitcher <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2018/11/bill-mccool-597.html">Bill McCool</a> that winter.<br /><br />Landis pitched only 10 innings for the Cards' AAA team in 1971 before retiring.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-83742771494486249062020-03-16T23:59:00.000-04:002020-03-16T23:59:08.656-04:00John Donaldson (#244)John Donaldson played 6 seasons from 1966-1970, and in 1974, all for the Athletics except for playing the 2nd half of 1969 with the Seattle Pilots.<br /><br />Donaldson was signed by the Twins before the 1963 season, and drafted by the Kansas City Athletics after his first season. He played in the Athletics’ farm system for the next 3 seasons, initially as a shortstop until making the switch to 2nd base in 1966.<br /><br />John made his major-league debut in late-August 1966, playing 15 games over the final weeks of the season.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-St2GW1fZhYU/XnA1NdpDILI/AAAAAAAAOJw/ThhAUd9blyYK3c86mjMcAZp09i8M3gPbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BJohn%2BDonaldson%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1136" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-St2GW1fZhYU/XnA1NdpDILI/AAAAAAAAOJw/ThhAUd9blyYK3c86mjMcAZp09i8M3gPbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BJohn%2BDonaldson%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_WPFBj4tP0/XnA1M9_n0GI/AAAAAAAAOJs/6FX1zUOABIw37E5Po2Z7NbLUBHxHTVAjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BJohn%2BDonaldson%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1136" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_WPFBj4tP0/XnA1M9_n0GI/AAAAAAAAOJs/6FX1zUOABIw37E5Po2Z7NbLUBHxHTVAjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BJohn%2BDonaldson%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br />After starting the 1967 season in AAA, he joined the Athletics in early-June and started 100 of the final 110 games at 2nd base, pushing incumbent <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2018/05/dick-green-515.html">Dick Green</a> over to a 3rd base rotation with <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/09/classic-crew-cuts-part-1.html">Danny Cater</a> and <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2015/09/sal-bando-120_26.html">Sal Bando</a>.<br /><br />In 1968 he started 81 of the first 103 games at 2B, then was replaced by Green and only made 9 more starts for the rest of the season, including three at 3rd base.<br /><br />Donaldson found a seat on the bench in 1969, his only start coming in the first game of a May 30th doubleheader. On June 14th he was traded to the Seattle Pilots for backup catcher Larry Haney. He returned to regular playing time with the hapless Pilots, starting 91 of the final 107 games.<br /><br />In mid-May 1970, the Brewers traded him back to the Athletics for shortstop <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/06/roberto-pena-184.html">Roberto Pena</a>. John returned to the backup role he had from mid-‘68 to mid-‘69.<br /><br />Donaldson didn’t make the team in 1971, and spent the next 3 years in the minors – bouncing to the Tigers, Orioles, and Padres, but never playing for any of them.<br /><br />He was released by the Padres in April 1974 and signed with the Athletics. He spent most of his final season in the minors, but did play 9 games for the Athletics in April and May, and one in October.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-36895216034379745742019-12-31T19:24:00.001-05:002019-12-31T19:24:15.790-05:00Rob Gardner (#219)This is Rob Gardner’s first card as a member of the Chicago Cubs. I first became aware of him when I got his Mets’ card in the 1967 set.<br /><br />Gardner was signed by the Twins in 1963 (I did not know that.) After the ’63 season, he was selected by the Mets in the first-year draft.<br /><br />Rob made his major-league debut with the Mets in September 1965. He appeared in 41 games (17 starts) for the Mets in 1966, more than twice as many games as he played in any other season. 1966 was the only year he did not spend any time in the minor leagues.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6GhZoWHe28/XgvfTy3KdjI/AAAAAAAAOFY/MbgSOcEzK-ArENCjKSfsaFXx9Keih0ScACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BRob%2BGardner%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1146" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A6GhZoWHe28/XgvfTy3KdjI/AAAAAAAAOFY/MbgSOcEzK-ArENCjKSfsaFXx9Keih0ScACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BRob%2BGardner%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7f26bPnyvLk/XgvfUGSL_nI/AAAAAAAAOFc/9hCiJMSbwcQ9ClM97qLHDYGfFaBj9rNSACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BRob%2BGardner%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1146" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7f26bPnyvLk/XgvfUGSL_nI/AAAAAAAAOFc/9hCiJMSbwcQ9ClM97qLHDYGfFaBj9rNSACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BRob%2BGardner%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />He began 1967 in triple-A, then was traded to the Cubs in mid-June (with catcher <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/john-stephenson-522.html">JOhn Stephenson</a>) for pitcher <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/04/bob-hendley-345.html">Bob Hendley</a>. Rob pitched in 18 games for the Cubs over the second half.<br /><br />Gardner was traded to the Indians during Spring Training 1969 for pitcher <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/12/final-card-bob-tiefenauer.html">Bob Tiefenauer</a>. He spent most of 1968 and all of 1969 in the minors, only appearing in 5 games for the Tribe in September 1968.<br /><br />He was traded to the Yankees in June 1969 for catcher <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2010/05/final-card-john-orsino.html">Johnny Orsino</a>, but only played 1 game for the Yanks in September 1970.<br /><br />New York traded Ron to the Athletics in early-April 1971 for <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/07/felipe-alou-55_16.html">Felpie Alou</a>, but 6 weeks later he was traded back to the Bronx for <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/06/curt-blefary-460.html">Cury Blefary</a>. He played 20 games for the Yankees in ’72, but spent most of ’71 and ’72 in the minors.<br /><br />After the 1972 season he was traded BACK to Oakland, this time for <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2014/07/matty-alou-10.html">MATTY Alou</a>.<br /><br />He was sold to the Brewers in May 1973, but after 10 games was returned to the A’s in July.<br /><br />Gardner played for the Tigers’ AAA team in 1974 and the Yankees’ AAA team in 1975 before retiring.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-37971347098730226142019-10-04T00:13:00.001-04:002019-10-04T19:33:48.591-04:00Ron Herbel (#333)Ron Herbel looks determined to not finish with a 4-5 record for the 3rd straight year. (<i>He didn't – his 1968 record was 0-0! He did get back to 4 wins in 1969 though.</i>)<br /><br />Herbel was signed by the Giants in 1958, and made his major-league debut in September 1963. He was a member of the Giants’ rotation from 1964-67. His best season was 1965, posting career highs in wins (12) and strikeouts (106).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZZg8pM7z-o/XZbBMBw3oDI/AAAAAAAAN5w/32QU6RAtHzo2TCht4XFvvt3pegFeb4zjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BRon%2BHerbel%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZZg8pM7z-o/XZbBMBw3oDI/AAAAAAAAN5w/32QU6RAtHzo2TCht4XFvvt3pegFeb4zjQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BRon%2BHerbel%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xn9aTeKLITA/XZbBIWcIGgI/AAAAAAAAN5s/SCfSD1_ekQYcgHMKrEuO-miClIoBxA1wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BRon%2BHerbel%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1148" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xn9aTeKLITA/XZbBIWcIGgI/AAAAAAAAN5s/SCfSD1_ekQYcgHMKrEuO-miClIoBxA1wwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BRon%2BHerbel%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><i>(Why would Topps abbreviate San Fran one way on 4 lines, then change to another way?)&nbsp;</i><br /><br />Ron shifted to bullpen duty for the Giants in 1968 and 1969, but only pitched 43 innings in 1968.<br /><br />After the 1969 season he was traded to the Padres with catcher Bob Barton and 3rd baseman <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2013/02/bobby-etheridge-126.html">Bobby Etheridge</a> for pitcher Frank Reberger. Ron notched 9 saves with San Diego, then on September 1st he moved on to the Mets. He led the National League in 1970 with 76 appearances.<br /><br />In December he was flipped to the Braves for 3rd baseman <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/bob-aspromonte-95.html">Bob Aspromonte</a>. Herbel was the 11th man on Atlanta’s pitching staff in 1971, and was released the following spring.<br /><br />He was picked up by the Twins but spent 1972 playing for their AAA team, never to return to the majors.<br /><br />A notoriously bad hitter,&nbsp; his .029 career batting average is the lowest in major-league history for a player with at least 100 at-bats.<br /><br />Herbel passed away in 2000 at age 62.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-30533385938780912752019-09-23T23:35:00.003-04:002019-09-23T23:35:51.971-04:00Dick Kelley (#203)Dick Kelley was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1959, and made his major-league debut on April 15, 1964. In that game he had the misfortune of giving up 4 earned runs while facing 5 batters (2 hits, 3 walks) but recording no outs, so his zero innings pitched resulted in the dreaded ERA of "infinity".<br /><br />He spent the rest of the 1964 season in triple A, then returned to pitch 2 innings on the final day of the season. His no-hit/no-runs/no-walks performance LOWERED his ERA for the season to 18.00.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQP6Oo0GkIE/XYmJiby-j-I/AAAAAAAAN1g/LvosVpKc2sMMN8IypuMSlNchkErRRDL-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BDick%2BKelley%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1137" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MQP6Oo0GkIE/XYmJiby-j-I/AAAAAAAAN1g/LvosVpKc2sMMN8IypuMSlNchkErRRDL-ACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BDick%2BKelley%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRYlTyyxtks/XYmJignzMfI/AAAAAAAAN1k/KRUUVfl46qAAkUeKXIpxoXgwNCqUm75jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BDick%2BKelley%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1137" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRYlTyyxtks/XYmJignzMfI/AAAAAAAAN1k/KRUUVfl46qAAkUeKXIpxoXgwNCqUm75jQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BDick%2BKelley%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br />Aside from the rocky 1964, Kelley pitched 6 more seasons in the majors (1965-71). In 1966 and 1969 he was primarily a starter, and a reliever for the other years. (He missed the 1970 season.)<br /><br />Kelley divided his time between the Braves and their AAA team in '65 and '66.<br /><br />He pitched 98 innings for the Braves in both 1967 and 1968, but that was not enough of an impression to keep him off the expansion draft list. The Padres selected him in the post-1968 draft.<br /><br />Dick started 23 of his 27 games for the Padres in 1969, and posted career-highs in innings (136) and strikeouts (96). He must have been injured in 1970, because he did not play for the Padres, and only played 1 game for their triple-A team.<br /><br />Kelley returned to the Padres in 1971 as a reliever, and made 48 appearances (a career high) in his final season.<br /><br />He pitched 9 games for the Rangers’ AAA team in 1972, before retiring.<br /><br />Kelley passed away in 2001 at age 51.<br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-26626615409120885882019-09-14T21:37:00.000-04:002019-09-14T21:52:20.164-04:00Ed Stroud (#31)This is Ed Stroud’s first solo card.&nbsp; He previously appeared on a White Sox Rookies card (with Walt Williams) in the 1967 set.<br /><br />Stroud began his career in the White Sox organization in 1963. His nickname of “Streak” was due to his stealing 74 and 72 bases in his first two minor-league seasons! After 4 seasons in the minors, he made his Sox debut in September 1966.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VXZBLwU6MfQ/XX2M94TIHeI/AAAAAAAANy4/4PA0judSLn0pAclvTC24A3VyfdderIFTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BEd%2BStroud%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="496" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VXZBLwU6MfQ/XX2M94TIHeI/AAAAAAAANy4/4PA0judSLn0pAclvTC24A3VyfdderIFTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BEd%2BStroud%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Emj9-ngu4s/XX2M923oDPI/AAAAAAAANy8/led1xL83RV0jh5H0KwptvYh_n6OYg51NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1968%2BEd%2BStroud%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="497" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Emj9-ngu4s/XX2M923oDPI/AAAAAAAANy8/led1xL83RV0jh5H0KwptvYh_n6OYg51NgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/1968%2BEd%2BStroud%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br />In mid-June 1967 he was traded to the Senators for veteran outfielder <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/final-card-jim-king.html">Jim King</a>. (The first of <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2011/12/round-round-get-around-i-get-around.html">King's two trades that season</a>.) It was a good move for Stroud, who was stuck behind <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2012/11/what-hell-is-going-on-with-blogger.html">Tommie Agee</a>, <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2014/06/ken-berry-127.html">Ken Berry</a>, <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2016/02/pete-ward-25.html">Pete Ward</a>, and rookie <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/05/walt-williams-172.html">Walt Williams</a> in the Sox’ outfield.<br /><br />Ed played 79 games in center field over the 2nd half of the ’67 season, sharing the starts with <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2018/01/hank-allen-426.html">Hank Allen</a>.<br /><br />In 1968, rookie <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2015/09/del-unser-338.html">Del Unser</a> took over the center field job, so Stroud moved over to the right field mix with <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/cap-peterson-188.html">Cap Peterson</a>, <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/02/final-card-fred-valentine.html">Fred Valentine</a>, and others. Ed led the pack with 52 starts. He also played in left field occasionally when <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/frank-howard-255.html">Frank Howard</a> was at first base.<br /><br />The arrangement in 1969 was much the same as in ’68, except now Ed had <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2013/11/lee-maye-595.html">Lee Maye</a> above him in the pecking order.<br /><br />1970 was a career year for Stroud. Unser was limited to 100 or so games, and half of them were in right field for some reason. Ed was the primary center fielder that year, starting 95 games. He had career highs in hits (115) and stolen bases (40).<br /><br />All that quality play in 1970 got him a ticket out of Washington, as he was traded back to the White Sox for 1st baseman <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2017/11/tom-mccraw-141.html">Tom McCraw</a> during spring training in 1971. Stroud played in 50+ games over the first half (rarely starting) and by midseason he was back in the minors, and retired after the season.<br /><br /><a href="http://mlb1960s.blogspot.com/2012/07/rip-ed-stroud.html">Stroud passed away in 2012 at age 72</a>.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-2502651795766952402019-08-31T23:51:00.001-04:002019-09-01T01:17:40.509-04:00Steve Whitaker (#383)Here is outfielder Steve Whitaker, in his last season as a Yankee.<br /><br />Whitaker was one of a long line of Yankees' outfielders (along with <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2016/08/roger-repoz-138.html">Roger Repoz</a>, <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2017/03/bill-robinson-23.html">Bill Robinson</a>, <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/04/back-on-topps-radar-roy-white.html">Roy White</a>, <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/01/bobby-murcer-657.html">Bobby Murcer</a>, and Jerry Kenney) who were touted as, if not the next <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/mickey-mantle-280.html">Mickey Mantle</a>, then the next <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/final-card-roger-maris.html">Roger Maris</a> or surely the next <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/tom-tresh-289.html">Tom Tresh</a>. (Only White and Murcer panned out for the Yankees. )<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD5WLg5n0Bs/XWs86571CMI/AAAAAAAANwE/jJD7WKZo4iIx3Y_46kRHdHp_O5AvPvpJwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BSteve%2BWhitaker%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD5WLg5n0Bs/XWs86571CMI/AAAAAAAANwE/jJD7WKZo4iIx3Y_46kRHdHp_O5AvPvpJwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BSteve%2BWhitaker%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx2cPIoe7Ws/XWs87PL0TMI/AAAAAAAANwI/BgGEapwLhWElimdXC9cZDxoBo4vuspMdwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BSteve%2BWhitaker%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx2cPIoe7Ws/XWs87PL0TMI/AAAAAAAANwI/BgGEapwLhWElimdXC9cZDxoBo4vuspMdwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BSteve%2BWhitaker%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />Whitaker was signed by the Yankees in 1962, and played in the minors from 1962-65. He bashed 27 homers in ’64 and 24 in ’65. He also hit 20 homers in 1966 before his August call-up to the Yankees.<br /><br />In 1967 he started 108 games in the outfield (mostly in right field, replacing the traded Maris), but only hit 11 home runs while batting at a .243 clip.<br /><br />Steve split the 1968 season between the Yankees and triple-A, then was selected by the Royals in the expansion draft.<br /><br />During spring training in 1969, he was traded to the Seattle Pilots for disgruntled rookie <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2014/05/lou-piniella-321.html">Lou Piniella</a> (who went on to win the Rookie of the Year award). Whitaker didn’t fare as well as Piniella. He couldn’t find regular work with the expansion team, and was used mostly as a pinch-hitter, while also spending all of August back in triple-A.<br /><br />After the 1969 season he and outfielder <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2013/09/final-card-dick-simpson.html">Dick Simpson</a> were traded to the Giants for pitcher <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2016/12/bob-bolin-61.html">Bob Bolin</a>. He only played 16 games for the Giants (the last on May 9th) and played the remainder of 1970 for the Giants’ AAA team.<br /><br />Whitaker played for the Padres’ AAA team in Hawaii in '71 and '72 before retiring.<br /><br />&nbsp;--<br /><br />Having not collected baseball cards in 1970 or 1971, I lost track of Whitaker's career after 1969 until today, because by the time I was buying cards again in 1972, Steve had retired. His final card is in the 1971 set.<br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-34575484442645165822019-07-23T20:24:00.000-04:002019-07-23T20:25:14.119-04:00Men Without Hats IITo date, I've only made 8 posts here about the Athletics, fewest of any team. So I was planning to post their 1968 team card, but I just led off <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-1967-athletics.html">my last 1967 post</a> with the team card, so I decided to call an audible and revisit some of the awesomeness that was Topps in 1968.<br /><br />For the 2nd time in 3 years, <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/men-without-hats.html">Topps screwed over an American League team from California</a>. NOT ONE CARD in this set has an Athletic in their new Oakland uniform. Even the <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/final-card-bobby-bragan.html">first-year Atlanta Braves</a> got a few decent cards in the 1966 7th series, and in 1969 Topps was able to include <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/search/label/...first%20look">new cards</a> for FOUR expansion teams in the later series.<br /><br />But Topps really half-assed the 1968 set. Even the total number of cards dropped from the previous set, from 609 in ’67 to 598 in ’68. This despite adding TWENTY <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2011/07/all-star-cards.html">All-Star cards</a>, which they did not have in 1967. They also curiously decided to dispense with team cards altogether halfway through the season, so 7 teams were without a team card that year.<br /><br />Sure, we were expecting the Astros not to have one, because Topps never made a Colt 45s/Astros team card until 1970, but six other teams also? (That’s another thing – someone’s always giving the Astros the shaft. If it’s not <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/houston-we-have-problem.html">Topps</a>, then it’s <a href="https://mlb1960s.blogspot.com/2012/12/goodbye-to-2012.html">the dope in the commissioner's office</a>.)<br /><br /><br />So here are the 1968 Athletics – “Men Without Hats” (or in some cases, “Men With Bad Hats”):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhD_YHSdXzM/XTek8TAu7OI/AAAAAAAANlA/I5ZcvUr-FHwN5elVwnRYafl7iNyPZPjWACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BAthletics%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1140" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhD_YHSdXzM/XTek8TAu7OI/AAAAAAAANlA/I5ZcvUr-FHwN5elVwnRYafl7iNyPZPjWACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BAthletics%2B1.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Tanei0Zunw/XTek5WVNsoI/AAAAAAAANk8/g4_dfBcYnKY86jD20tzexBRTQsjGbiIYQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BAthletics%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1137" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Tanei0Zunw/XTek5WVNsoI/AAAAAAAANk8/g4_dfBcYnKY86jD20tzexBRTQsjGbiIYQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BAthletics%2B2.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TtgNaNOA9s0/XTekyuqj05I/AAAAAAAANk4/JDP6TPozTbw1AGPFbPtUMHZ6nLZxtDaXwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BAthletics%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1145" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TtgNaNOA9s0/XTekyuqj05I/AAAAAAAANk4/JDP6TPozTbw1AGPFbPtUMHZ6nLZxtDaXwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BAthletics%2B3.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br />(And what's with having FOUR catchers?)Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-91905261554558657762019-07-14T17:47:00.003-04:002019-07-14T17:47:48.255-04:00Jack Hiatt (#419)Jack Hiatt was a C/1B who played for 9 seasons (1964-72), five of them with the Giants.<br /><br />He was signed by the Los Angeles Angels in 1961 and played in their farm system from 1961-64 as a catcher and outfielder. Jack made his major-league debut with the Angels in September 1964.<br /><br />After the season he was traded to the Giants for outfielder <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/06/jose-cardenal-505.html">Jose Cardenal</a>. (<i>D'oh! Another fleecing of the Giants' front office!</i>) For most of 1965-66 he played for the Giants’ AAA teams in Tacoma and Phoenix, but also played a few dozen games with the Giants.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qTDUeJ3jSP0/XSuYm9ULPLI/AAAAAAAANho/xugp0klz4VEPFjkCdCwvF5Yhb2hjhzAyACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BJack%2BHiatt%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qTDUeJ3jSP0/XSuYm9ULPLI/AAAAAAAANho/xugp0klz4VEPFjkCdCwvF5Yhb2hjhzAyACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BJack%2BHiatt%2528f%2529.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pSnftsrB6Eg/XSuYmz0qNyI/AAAAAAAANhk/y6J9f2SLPTgXT7bHp3FqBa9yBUP3aGr2wCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BJack%2BHiatt%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pSnftsrB6Eg/XSuYmz0qNyI/AAAAAAAANhk/y6J9f2SLPTgXT7bHp3FqBa9yBUP3aGr2wCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BJack%2BHiatt%2528r%2529.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br />Hiatt made the majors to stay in 1967.&nbsp; With rookie catcher <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2012/12/dick-dietz-104.html">Dick Dietz</a> joining the team to back up <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/08/tom-haller-185.html">Tom Haller</a>, Hiatt only started 3 games behind the plate, but started 31 games at 1st base to give <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2013/10/willie-mccovey-480.html">Willie McCovey</a> some rest.<br /><br />Haller was traded to the Dodgers after the season so Hiatt was elevated to #2 catcher in 1968, starting 56 games (with Dietz starting 80 and Bob Barton (<i><a href="https://tht.fangraphs.com/cooperstown-confidential-the-weird-magic-of-1972-topps-action/">of 1972's "In-Action" card fame!</a></i>) picking up the other 27 games).<br /><br />This arrangement continued in 1969 with the Dietz/Hiatt/Barton trio starting 69/57/33 games.<br /><br />On Opening Day 1970 he was sold to the Expos. Jack played 17 games (10 starts) with Montreal, then was traded to the Cubs for outfielder Boots Day in mid-May.<br /><br />He played 66 games (58 starts) for the Cubs in his only season with Chicago. He was the starting catcher every day from May 16th to July 3rd (except for the 2nd game of doubleheaders) while <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/randy-hundley-106.html">Randy Hundley</a> was out of the lineup.<br /><br />Before the 1971 season he was sold to the Astros. Jack started 57 games that season as <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2014/09/johnny-edwards-202.html">Johnny Edwards</a>’ backup.<br /><br />In July 1972 he came full-circle back to the Angels.&nbsp; He played 22 games (10 starts) with most of his starts coming in September.<br /><br />Hiatt was released during Spring Training in 1973, and played that season with the Padres’ AAA team in Hawaii. He also played for the Cubs’ AAA team in 1974, and for 1 game in 1975.<br /><br />He was a minor-league manager for 5 different teams off-and-on from 1977-88.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-91015716652011392882019-07-13T01:03:00.001-04:002019-07-13T01:03:31.139-04:00Blogroll BlogA few months ago I set up a blogroll blog (for reasons mentioned in the blog).<br /><br />Since then, it has been lurking as "Master Blogroll" on the sidebars of my 1963 to 1970 blogs, just above the "Vintage Year Blogs (1951-80)" section, so some of you may have found it already.<br /><br />&nbsp;For those that haven't, here it is: <a href="https://jd-blogroll.blogspot.com/">https://jd-blogroll.blogspot.com/</a><br />&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAiKnIRYSgA/XSlkYPayw9I/AAAAAAAANdQ/TP_LISYimf4cnLZBB-EU8ebiPV4QAvI3ACLcBGAs/s1600/Blogroll%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="765" height="351" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oAiKnIRYSgA/XSlkYPayw9I/AAAAAAAANdQ/TP_LISYimf4cnLZBB-EU8ebiPV4QAvI3ACLcBGAs/s400/Blogroll%2Bblog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I have included all the blogs I could find for baseball and football cards, as well as some non-card-related baseball blogs.<br /><br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-19970452025438745452019-06-15T08:00:00.000-04:002019-06-15T08:00:03.212-04:00Russ Gibson (#297)Russ Gibson was the Red Sox' starting catcher for 1968-69, basically keeping the gear warm until the arrival of Carlton Fisk.<br /><br />Russ was signed by the Red Sox in 1957. After ten seasons in the minors, he finally made his major-league debut (at age 27) in 1967, starting 13 of the team's first 17 games. He soon settled in as the Sox' #3 catcher, only making 37 starts behind <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2012/06/mike-ryan-591.html">Mike Ryan</a> (74 starts) and the <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/bob-tillman-668.html">Bob Tillman</a> / <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/11/elston-howard.html">Elston Howard</a> tandem (51 starts).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DakeZ5RCnC4/XP8pzpjts2I/AAAAAAAANWA/NL0h8XveGmg_2l2v0ypLizPMtoasY7hrwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BRuss%2BGibson%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DakeZ5RCnC4/XP8pzpjts2I/AAAAAAAANWA/NL0h8XveGmg_2l2v0ypLizPMtoasY7hrwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BRuss%2BGibson%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3NTjXbdJm8/XP8pz_KwzxI/AAAAAAAANV8/cxuZV6-qpjk_srzpe4Ug28Nrdtx1I40oQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BRuss%2BGibson%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3NTjXbdJm8/XP8pz_KwzxI/AAAAAAAANV8/cxuZV6-qpjk_srzpe4Ug28Nrdtx1I40oQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BRuss%2BGibson%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br />After the off-season trade of Ryan to the Phillies, Gibson shared the #1 catcher job with Howard, who was in his final season. Each started 60+ games, with <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/final-card-russ-nixon.html">Russ Nixon</a> picking up the scraps at #3.<br /><br />Gibson rose to the top of the pile in 1969, his last season with Boston. He started 78 games (mostly in the first half). The Red Sox were also working rookie <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2013/11/jerry-moses-104.html">Jerry Moses</a> into the lineup, along with <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2018/09/tom-satriano-238.html">Tom Satriano</a>, who was acquired from the Angels in mid-June.<br /><br />Three days before the 1970 season he was purchased by the Giants, and spent the next 2 years as a little-used backup to <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2012/12/dick-dietz-104.html">Dick Dietz</a>. In 1972 the Giants used rookie Dave Rader behind the plate. Gibson only played 4 games in May and one in September for the Giants, spending much of the '72 season in triple-A.<br /><br />He passed away in 2008 at age 69.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-53617311439835772462019-05-31T02:01:00.000-04:002019-05-31T02:01:08.419-04:00Cecil Upshaw (#286)Cecil Upshaw was the Braves’ top relief pitcher from mid-1967 through the 1972 season.<br /><br />Upshaw was signed by the Braves in 1964, and made his major-league debut on October 1, 1966.<br /><br />In 1967, he was recalled from the minors when closer <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2013/10/phil-niekro-257.html">Phil Niekro</a> moved to the starting rotation in mid-July. Upshaw remained in the closer role through the end of the 1972 season, except for missing the entire 1970 season with an injury.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVI-JJd9d9Y/XPC7kke4_oI/AAAAAAAANUY/ejZCJdYXe0UxYW2wAWQlwKW8yfheTFkrQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BCecil%2BUpshaw%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1148" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NVI-JJd9d9Y/XPC7kke4_oI/AAAAAAAANUY/ejZCJdYXe0UxYW2wAWQlwKW8yfheTFkrQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BCecil%2BUpshaw%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bP33v-dfBD0/XPC7jwIox3I/AAAAAAAANUU/6tQzIaq2Ue8ky_lKa_uKTr58jKzvwB44wCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BCecil%2BUpshaw%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1136" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bP33v-dfBD0/XPC7jwIox3I/AAAAAAAANUU/6tQzIaq2Ue8ky_lKa_uKTr58jKzvwB44wCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BCecil%2BUpshaw%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><br />In 1970 he tore ligaments in his hand in a freak accident. I had always heard that his ring finger got caught in a basketball net while attempting to dunk the ball, but on Wikipedia it says he and some teammates were walking down a sidewalk, and jumping up to touch overhanging awnings. Then his ring got caught on the awning and that was that.<br /><br />In any case, Upshaw led the Braves in saves every season from '68-'72 except for 1970. In each season prior to the injury, his ERA was under 3.00, and he won a career-high 11 games in 1971.<br /><br />After the 1972 season, the Braves acquired reliever <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/04/danny-frisella-191.html">Danny Frisella</a> from the Mets, and the following April Upshaw was traded to the Astros for outfielder <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/01/norm-miller-161.html">Norm Miller</a>.<br /><br />Cecil played just one season (1973) with the Astros, then was traded to the Indians in November for pitcher <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/jerry-johnson-253.html">Jerry Johnson</a>.<br /><br />By late-April 1974 he was shipped out to the Yankees in a 7-player deal that saw <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2018/01/fritz-peterson-142.html">Fritz Peterson</a> and Chris Chambliss change teams. Upshaw played 1 season in the Big Apple, as the #2 reliever behind Sparky Lyle.<br /><br />He was traded to the White Sox before the 1975 season. He manned the #10 spot on a 10-man staff in his final season, and was released during Spring Training in 1976.<br /><br />Upshaw passed away in 1995 at age 52, of a heart attack.<br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-8042325040938848822019-05-25T23:14:00.004-04:002019-05-25T23:16:15.735-04:00Born on the Same Day - 6/9/1939<i>Another installment in my "Born on the Same Day" series, featuring players who were born on the same day (!) and year.&nbsp;</i><br /><br />A few days ago, I just happened to find 4 other players who shared (2) common birthdays (Dick Egan/Bob Tillman, and Doug Clemens/Julio Gotay).<br /><br />This is actually the 24th post in the series, but since it comes chronologically after Milt Pappas and Frank Quilici, I'm going to call it post #11.5: Doug Clemens and Julio Gotay - both born on 6/9/1939.<br /><br /><i>(There are discrepancies on Gotay's date of birth between his 1968 card, Baseball-Reference.com, Baseball-Almanac.com, and Wikipedia, but I'm going with 6/9/39, which Baseball-Reference and Baseball-Almanac agree on.)&nbsp;</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-holPrW5wtjs/XOoBBs3s_AI/AAAAAAAANS4/ptESfr9tV24tsQ3A_19pSNu9ZzjT0I1VQCLcBGAs/s1600/Born%2B11.5%2B%2528Clemens-Gotay%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1600" height="282" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-holPrW5wtjs/XOoBBs3s_AI/AAAAAAAANS4/ptESfr9tV24tsQ3A_19pSNu9ZzjT0I1VQCLcBGAs/s400/Born%2B11.5%2B%2528Clemens-Gotay%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2010/02/final-card-doug-clemens.html">Doug Clemens</a> played for the Cardinals, Cubs, and Phillies from 1960 to 1968, He was in the majors continuously from 1964-1967, but only had one Topps card (1967). <br /><br /><a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/11/back-on-topps-radar-julio-gotay.html">Julio Gotay</a> was mostly a journeyman infielder for the Cardinals, Pirates, Angels, and Astros from 1960 to 1969, except for 1962, when he was the Cardinals' regular shortstop. He started a career-high 105 games that season. (His next highest number of starts was 35, with the 1968 Astros.)<br /><br />These two were teammates on the 1960-62 Cardinals.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-74005568321420375052019-05-12T01:25:00.001-04:002019-05-12T01:25:34.173-04:00Tom Phoebus (#97)Tom Phoebus was the first of a “second wave” of starting pitchers to come up through the Orioles’ farm system in the late 1960s.&nbsp; This group included <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2019/03/jim-hardin-222.html">Jim Hardin (who we just looked at in the previous post on this blog</a>) and <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2014/09/dave-leonhard-674.html">Dave Leonhard</a>, and came a year or 2 after the <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/11/dave-mcnally-193.html">Dave McNally</a> / <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2015/09/wally-bunker-585.html">Wally Bunker</a> / <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/jim-palmer.html">Jim Palmer</a> group.<br /><br />Phoebus really stepped up for the Orioles in his rookie season of 1967, leading a pitching staff decimated by injuries to McNally, Bunker, and Palmer. (Hardin would join the team by mid-season.)<br /><br />A Baltimore native, he was signed by the Orioles in June 1960 and played in their organization until making his major-league debut in September 1966. Phoebus pitched shutouts in his first 2 major-league starts, only the 4th AL pitcher to have done so.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jX2_eZr3L9o/XNelszIAgJI/AAAAAAAANPE/OrxacC87sgApgA2BM2AmISLAsbze9dXNACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTom%2BPhoebus%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1129" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jX2_eZr3L9o/XNelszIAgJI/AAAAAAAANPE/OrxacC87sgApgA2BM2AmISLAsbze9dXNACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTom%2BPhoebus%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_F7NaMoO8gs/XNeltaNdJLI/AAAAAAAANPI/YL1Sp_MCxSAXoAZdAuPnPlLZf4crXLAhwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTom%2BPhoebus%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1131" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_F7NaMoO8gs/XNeltaNdJLI/AAAAAAAANPI/YL1Sp_MCxSAXoAZdAuPnPlLZf4crXLAhwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTom%2BPhoebus%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br />Tom led the team with 14 wins in 1967 – the only pitcher with double-digit wins. He was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1967. He also won 15 games in ’68 and 14 games in ’69.<br /><br />1970 saw him slump to a 5-5 record, but by that time McNally had returned to his old form (leading the AL with 24 wins in 1970 and in the middle of a 4-year 20-game win streak). The O’s also had <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2015/11/mike-cuellar-453.html">Mike Cuellar</a> on board now, who won the AL Cy Young award in 1969 and whose 24 wins in 1970 co-led the AL with McNally. Even Jim Palmer was back on top, beginning a streak of four 20-win seasons in 1970. My point is, Phoebus had done his job from 1967-69, holding down the fort until the big guns arrived.<br /><br />Phoebus played for 2 more seasons after 1970, but never won more than 3 games again. In December 1970 he was traded to the Padres in a 6-player deal that brought pitcher <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2018/07/pat-dobson-231.html">Pat Dobson</a> to Baltimore (we all know how THAT turned out).<br /><br />In late-April 1972 he was sold to the Cubs, where he pitched unremarkably for the remainder of his final season.<br /><br />That October he was traded to the Braves for infielder <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2013/10/back-on-topps-radar-tony-larussa.html">Tony LaRussa</a>. Phoebus pitched for the Braves’ AAA team in 1973 before retiring.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-86359716171039213942019-03-23T15:51:00.000-04:002019-03-24T20:59:50.934-04:00Jim Hardin (#222)Jim Hardin pitched for the Orioles from 1967 to 1971. Early-on, he and Tom Phoebus backfilled a rotation decimated by injuries to <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/jim-palmer.html">Jim Palmer</a> and <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2015/09/wally-bunker-585.html">Wally Bunker</a>. After a few years, Palmer recovered and returned to the Orioles’ rotation, and <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2015/11/mike-cuellar-453.html">Mike Cuellar</a> was acquired from the Astros. Having served his purpose, Hardin moved on to the Yankees.<br /><br />Hardin was signed by the Mets, and played in their farm system from 1962-1965. After the ’65 season the Orioles acquired him in the minor-league draft.<br /><br />He made his Orioles’ debut in June 1967, after the above mentioned injuries decimated the starting rotation (also including <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/11/dave-mcnally-193.html">Dave McNally</a>).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_KpYIBstS4/XJaGfVklswI/AAAAAAAANCc/9QWHxfsy0CsNl0Nj9-fTnEQdkRcugr6dACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BJim%2BHardin%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1140" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_KpYIBstS4/XJaGfVklswI/AAAAAAAANCc/9QWHxfsy0CsNl0Nj9-fTnEQdkRcugr6dACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BJim%2BHardin%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpYP5Iv1EH4/XJaGf0nFgHI/AAAAAAAANCg/zzBBFUT_cusxscwNnYWFhBvIspFkdTO8ACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BJim%2BHardin%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1140" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UpYP5Iv1EH4/XJaGf0nFgHI/AAAAAAAANCg/zzBBFUT_cusxscwNnYWFhBvIspFkdTO8ACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BJim%2BHardin%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />Jim was 8-3 as a rookie, and won 18 games in 1968 as the O’s #2 starter behind a fully-recovered McNally, who won 22 games.<br /><br />He slipped to 6-7 in 1969, but by then was the #5 starter behind Cuellar (23 wins), McNally (20), Palmer (16) and Phoebus (14).<br /><br />Hardin pitched one more full season with the Birds (1970), and although they won the World Series, it was a down season for him personally, posting a 6-5 record. He and Phoebus (5-5) were the forgotten members of the rotation, as the <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/lets-go-os.html">Big Three</a> all won 20+ games and made 40 starts each.<br /><br />Jim was traded to the Yankees in May 1971, and after another bad season was released the following April. He was picked up by the Braves a few weeks later and pitched 26 games (mostly in relief) in his final season.<br /><br />After his playing career, Hardin became a small aircraft pilot. He was killed in 1991 when his 6-seat plane crashed in Key West, FL. He was 47.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-14832660978959017372019-01-06T16:56:00.004-05:002019-01-06T16:56:53.472-05:00Vern Fuller (#71)This is the rookie card for Vern Fuller, the Indians' starting 2nd baseman for most of 1967-1969.<br /><br />Fuller was signed by the Indians before the 1963 season out of Arizona State University (just before the Athletics started using that school as their farm system, producing Rick Monday, Sal Bando, and Reggie Jackson!)<br /><br />After a season in the minors, Vern missed almost all of 1964 with injuries, playing no minor-league ball and only 2 games with the Tribe in September.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bK1MGC4qMv0/XDJybv731eI/AAAAAAAAM1M/u-55sQ9tbd8i0wuQeAdW1gkMqGvUTu1nQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BVern%2BFuller%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bK1MGC4qMv0/XDJybv731eI/AAAAAAAAM1M/u-55sQ9tbd8i0wuQeAdW1gkMqGvUTu1nQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BVern%2BFuller%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDZHmHVGqB8/XDJyb5vhefI/AAAAAAAAM1Q/6nzav_eDSqgGP8oazkCH6ltGbJ2YqdwlwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BVern%2BFuller%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mDZHmHVGqB8/XDJyb5vhefI/AAAAAAAAM1Q/6nzav_eDSqgGP8oazkCH6ltGbJ2YqdwlwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BVern%2BFuller%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br />He played all of '65 and '66 back on the farm, save for a September call-up in 1966.<br /><br />Fuller was up and down between Cleveland and triple-A for the first half of 1967, but was recalled in mid-July and started 62 of the final 73 games at 2nd base, replacing the floundering tandem of Gus Gil, <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/final-card-pedro-gonzalez.html">Pedro Gonzalez</a>, and Chico Salmon.<br /><br />In 1968 Vern split the 2nd base duties with Chico Salmon for the first half of the season, and with rookie <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2014/07/dave-nelson-579.html">Dave Nelson</a> in the second half.<br /><br />Surprisingly, even though Nelson was named Topps all-rookie 2nd baseman in 1968, he only started 30 games in 1969, mostly from late-July to mid-August. Meanwhile, Fuller started 72 games, with newly-acquired bust <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/10/zoilo-versalles-400.html">Zoilo Versalles</a> playing some games there as well.<br /><br />Rookie Eddie Leon took over in 1970, relegating Fuller to just 33 at-bats in 29 games for the season. He only made 1 appearance between 6/12 and 8/18, and spent no time in the minors, so maybe he was injured for a good chunk of the season? Anyway, he retired after the season.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-36958543856885531572018-12-02T22:52:00.001-05:002018-12-02T23:06:33.475-05:00John Hiller (#307)John Hiller played for 15 seasons (1965-80), all for the Tigers. He pitched in 545 games, all but 43 in relief. The most games he ever started was 12 in 1968 and 8 in 1969.<br /><br />Hiller was signed by the Tigers in June 1962, and pitched in the minors from 1963-64, before making his big-league debut in September 1965.<br /><br />He pitched 1 game for the Tigers in April 1966, but returned to the minors for the rest of the season.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OejCP0PQ9rA/XAShBXNPH0I/AAAAAAAAMuY/OJBsW1EeuWoqzRqvmhHOW4Xs5Zyphv6IACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BJohn%2BHiller%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1151" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OejCP0PQ9rA/XAShBXNPH0I/AAAAAAAAMuY/OJBsW1EeuWoqzRqvmhHOW4Xs5Zyphv6IACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BJohn%2BHiller%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mufCuHUHWrM/XAShBf0uSYI/AAAAAAAAMuc/WNs0zKCSGpQKLKg5HsOW69nLTFWCjoPVQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BJohn%2BHiller%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1154" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mufCuHUHWrM/XAShBf0uSYI/AAAAAAAAMuc/WNs0zKCSGpQKLKg5HsOW69nLTFWCjoPVQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BJohn%2BHiller%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br />John began the 1967 season in the minors, then was called up for the 2nd half of the season. He made the Tigers to stay beginning in 1968. Hiller pitched 2 innings in the 1968 World Series, but gave up 4 runs for a 13.50 ERA.<br /><br />After having a heart attack in January 1971, he missed all of 1971 and the first half of the 1972 season.<br /><br />Hiller's best years were 1973 and 1974. In '73, he led the AL in saves (3), games (65), and games finished (60), and had a career-low 1.44 ERA while winning 10 games. He also finished 4th in the Cy Young voting.<br /><br />In '74 he won 17 games (all in relief) and made his only All-Star team. John led the Tigers in saves from 1973-76, and again in 1978.<br /><br />1980 was his final season. After pitching 11 games in April and May, he retired as the Tigers' all-time leader in games pitched. At that time, he was 4th on the career saves list, behind Sparky Lyle, Hoyt Wilhelm, and Rollie Fingers.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-3621422485497691262018-11-12T22:19:00.000-05:002018-11-12T22:28:16.184-05:00Final Card: Ted DavidsonI don't often post back-to-back cards of players on the same team, but 6 years after (I thought) I completed my "<a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2012/10/final-card-recapping-all-50.html">1968 Final Cards</a>" series, yesterday I discovered that Reds' pitcher Ted Davidson also had his final card (#48) in the 1968 set.<br /><br />Davidson was signed by the Reds in 1960. He made his major-league debut in late-July 1965 (at age 25). In 1966 he pitched in 54 games (all in relief), but his career took a turn for the worse in 1967.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQJF55zPOxg/W-pCYoxka1I/AAAAAAAAMo4/1CDAbrZr1fkhKoicYGJe0t9QxnYpdij_wCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTed%2BDavidson%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQJF55zPOxg/W-pCYoxka1I/AAAAAAAAMo4/1CDAbrZr1fkhKoicYGJe0t9QxnYpdij_wCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTed%2BDavidson%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h1eL4eg5tKw/W-pCX1IxKoI/AAAAAAAAMo0/oG_PjKeTPgoBS8UPfR7qiesZp93_umRhQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTed%2BDavidson%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1112" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h1eL4eg5tKw/W-pCX1IxKoI/AAAAAAAAMo0/oG_PjKeTPgoBS8UPfR7qiesZp93_umRhQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTed%2BDavidson%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br />Davidson was shot by his estranged wife in a bar in March 1967 and missed a few months while recovering. He began pitching in the minors by June, and was back with the Reds for 9 games in September.<br /><br />Ted pitched 23 games out of the Reds’ bullpen during the first half of 1968, but was traded to the Braves (with pitcher <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/08/milt-pappas-105.html">Milt Pappas</a> and infielder <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2011/05/final-card-bob-johnson.html">Bob Johnson</a>) for pitchers <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/11/tony-cloninger-490.html">Tony Cloninger</a> and <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2017/01/clay-carroll-412.html">Clay Carroll</a>, and shortstop <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/04/woody-woodward-476.html">Woody Woodward</a>.<br /><br />For the Braves, he pitched 2 games in June and 2 in July, then spent the rest of the season in the minors, never to return.<br /><br />In his final pro season (1969), he bounced around in triple-A for the Cubs, White Sox, and Indians.<br /><br />Davidson passed away in 2006 at age 66.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-19444889850523657742018-11-03T21:04:00.002-04:002018-11-03T21:04:42.252-04:00Bill McCool (#597)Bill McCool was in his last season as a Cincinnati Red in 1968, and is shown on the next-to-last card in the set.<br /><br />Signed by the Reds in 1963, he came up in April 1964, and was named to the <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kl-4VYh7R3Y/R0uIdk5sUUI/AAAAAAAAABI/rntPhzvh9Fo/s1600/mccool.jpg">Topps All-Rookie team</a> that year.<br /><br />Bill played from 1964-1970, wrapping up his career with the Padres (’69) and Cardinals (’70). He was almost exclusively a reliever, although he did start 1/3 of his games in 1967.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVpcFOx_it0/W949zF-jy2I/AAAAAAAAMlE/_n1RNwwzcZAtE9tbA7mca64J9bDFs7iawCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BBill%2BMcCool%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1150" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RVpcFOx_it0/W949zF-jy2I/AAAAAAAAMlE/_n1RNwwzcZAtE9tbA7mca64J9bDFs7iawCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BBill%2BMcCool%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br />McCool led the Reds in saves in 1965 (21) and 1966 (18), and made the All-Star team in '66.&nbsp; In 1967 he took a back seat to the newly-acquired <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2018/08/ted-abernathy-264.html">Ted Abernathy</a>.<br /><br />The June 1968 acquisition of <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2017/01/clay-carroll-412.html">Clay Carroll</a> from the Braves pushed McCool further down on the bullpen depth chart, and by season’s end he was left unprotected in the expansion draft.<br /><br />The Padres selected him in the draft, and he led the new team in saves (a whopping 7!) in their first season.<br /><br />He was traded to the Cardinals in April 1970, splitting that season between St Louis and their AAA team. It was his last year in the majors.<br /><br />Between October 1970 and February 1971 Bill was traded twice – first to the Red Sox and then to the Royals, but he played for neither team.<br /><br />He spent his final season (1971) with the triple-A affiliates of the Royals and Twins.<br /><br />McCool passed away in 2014 at age 69.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-87706113956980787432018-09-21T08:00:00.000-04:002018-09-21T09:22:12.474-04:00Tom Satriano (#238)Tom Satriano was the Angels’ backup catcher and 3rd baseman from 1961-69, and also played for the Red Sox from 1969-70.<br /><br />He and <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2010/02/jim-fregosi-385.html">Jim Fregosi</a>, <a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2014/07/dean-chance-340.html">Dean Chance</a>, and <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2012/11/final-card-ron-kline.html">Ron Kline</a> were the only members of the expansion 1961 Angels still playing into the 1970s, and Satriano played more games during that first season than any of the others.<br /><br />Tom was signed out of USC by the Angels on July 22, 1961, and made his Angels’ debut the very next day. After playing in 35 games as a rookie, he spent most of 1962 and 1963 in the minors. Satriano was primarily a 3rd baseman and 2nd baseman, and didn’t start catching on a regular basis until 1964.<br /><br />He played all of 1964 with the Angels, but split the ’65 season between the Angels and their triple-A team.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SdPEHBmnmo4/W6STwKgRfeI/AAAAAAAAMfQ/KmRPfZLGXMAzXCtoTRzB97yhZPIy1QXjwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTom%2BSatriano%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SdPEHBmnmo4/W6STwKgRfeI/AAAAAAAAMfQ/KmRPfZLGXMAzXCtoTRzB97yhZPIy1QXjwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTom%2BSatriano%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2qkq5q48d4/W6STwjnMgII/AAAAAAAAMfU/CZmPXJAJRRIT5FVbjRdwrRzpcIEgXpK8QCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTom%2BSatriano%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1158" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s2qkq5q48d4/W6STwjnMgII/AAAAAAAAMfU/CZmPXJAJRRIT5FVbjRdwrRzpcIEgXpK8QCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTom%2BSatriano%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />Satriano was back with the Angels on a full-time basis beginning in 1966. From 1966-68 (as in 1964) he came to bat more than 200 times each season. His 83 starts in 1968 were the most for his career.<br /><br />In June 1969 Tom was traded to the Red Sox for catcher <a href="http://1969topps.blogspot.com/2017/08/final-card-joe-azcue.html">Joe Azcue</a>, and backed up Russ Gibson ('69) and <a href="http://1970topps.blogspot.com/2013/11/jerry-moses-104.html">Jerry Moses</a> ('70) in his final 2 seasons.<br /><br />He was released in April 1971, and played for the Padres’ AAA team in Hawaii that season before retiring.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-20263162882260683052018-08-23T18:44:00.000-04:002018-08-24T00:27:09.630-04:00Ted Abernathy (#264)I posted Ted Abernathy’s <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/10/classic-crew-cuts-part-2.html">high-numbered 1967 card</a> in 2009 with a group of other players, but it’s time to give him his own write-up (and something other than a capless big-head card!)<br /><br />At age 33, Abernathy was rescued from the Rule 5 scrap heap by the Reds in November 1966, then paid them back by posting a 1.27 ERA in 1967, while leading the NL with 28 saves! In his 2 seasons with the Reds (67-68), Ted led the league in appearances (70, 78).<br /><br />His <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=aberna001the">pro career</a> began way back in 1952, when he was signed by the (old) Washington Senators and assigned to their Class-D team. After 2 seasons in the low minors, Ted missed the 1954 season while in military service.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmsXQAo-U5M/W38vHshi9jI/AAAAAAAAMYg/smulRZ2ipm4FVqirX6nk9X4V-UlCIPREwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTed%2BAbernathy%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mmsXQAo-U5M/W38vHshi9jI/AAAAAAAAMYg/smulRZ2ipm4FVqirX6nk9X4V-UlCIPREwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTed%2BAbernathy%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxGw8l1HJh4/W38vIBXmDdI/AAAAAAAAMYk/m9gcGCCDxH88KmkuNo5Nr4yQ-hNKbZHcACLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BTed%2BAbernathy%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1142" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GxGw8l1HJh4/W38vIBXmDdI/AAAAAAAAMYk/m9gcGCCDxH88KmkuNo5Nr4yQ-hNKbZHcACLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BTed%2BAbernathy%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br />Abernathy made his major-league debut in April 1955, pitching in 40 games for the Nats (including 14 starts). He split the ’56 season between Washington and triple-A, then was back with the Senators for all of 1957, appearing in 26 games.<br /><br />Ted spent all of 1958-62 in the minors, except for 3 innings with the Senators in April 1960. After shoulder surgery in 1959, he became a side-armed "submarine style" pitcher.<br /><br />After his May 1960 release, he was signed by the Braves the next month, and traded to the Indians in 1961, but he would not return to the majors until May 1963, with the Cleveland.<br /><br />After 2 solid seasons with the tribe (43 and 53 games), he was sold to the Cubs in April 1965. Abernathy led the NL in games (84) and saves (31) that season, with a 2.57 ERA.<br /><br />In May 1966 he was traded to the Braves for <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/03/final-card-lee-thomas.html">Lee Thomas</a>, and although he pitched in 38 games, after the season he landed on the Braves’ Richmond roster, where he was stolen by the Reds in the Rule 5 draft.<br /><br />After 2 workhorse seasons in Cincinnati, Ted was on the move again, back to the Cubs for one season.<br /><br />He made an early-1970 pit stop with the Cardinals, before finishing his career with 2 ½ seasons in Kansas City, appearing in 144 games for the Royals before his February 1973 release, a month before his 40th birthday.<br /><br />He passed away in 2004 at age 71.<br />Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-68056775322416902522018-07-03T17:53:00.000-04:002018-07-03T17:53:18.587-04:00Mike Andrews (#502)This is Mike Andrews’ first solo card (having previously appeared on a Red Sox Rookies card in the 1967 set). Mike is fresh off his rookie season with the 1967 Impossible Dream BoSox. I was surprised today to see that Andrews had a relatively-short 7-year career (not counting his 5 games in 1966).<br /><br />Signed by Boston in 1961, he played for 5 seasons in the minors (1962-66) – mostly as a shortstop, until switching to 2nd base for 1966.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDZjsEC9dsw/WzvnDorcxQI/AAAAAAAAMU0/vaxbZvPi77EP68LoLSnJ_WyPbCRU8P44wCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BMike%2BAndrews%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1136" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PDZjsEC9dsw/WzvnDorcxQI/AAAAAAAAMU0/vaxbZvPi77EP68LoLSnJ_WyPbCRU8P44wCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BMike%2BAndrews%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06cfIE0RAmg/WzvnEB0CxLI/AAAAAAAAMU4/k1tG3emgfsIc1VNyTZyhHmQHJ4P-BJjlwCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BMike%2BAndrews%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1146" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06cfIE0RAmg/WzvnEB0CxLI/AAAAAAAAMU4/k1tG3emgfsIc1VNyTZyhHmQHJ4P-BJjlwCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BMike%2BAndrews%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br />Mike made his major-league debut in September 1966, then took over the starting 2nd base job with the Red Sox as a rookie. After riding the bench for the first 6 games in 1967, Andrews started 135 games that season, and played in 5 of the 7 World Series games, batting .308 in the Fall Classic.<br /><br />He was the team’s regular 2nd baseman through 1970. In ’69, Mike made his only All-Star team, and hit .293 that year, along with 15 homers (more than double the previous year).<br /><br />With newly-acquired rookie Doug Griffin ready to take over the 2nd base job in 1971, Andrews was traded to the White Sox for shortstop <a href="http://1967topps.blogspot.com/2009/09/60-luis-aparicio.html">Luis Aparicio</a>. In Chicago, Mike split the 2nd base job with Rich McKinney, while also starting a few dozen games at 1st base in relief of Carlos May.<br /><br />In 1972 he was the full-time 2nd baseman, starting 143 games there. That was to be his last year as a regular, probably thanks to his batting average dropping to .220 from the .282 he hit the previous season.<br /><br />Andrews was used mostly as a DH in 1973. After only starting 35 of the first 90 games, he was released on July 16th.<br /><br />Two weeks later he was picked up by the Athletics, and was reunited with his old Red Sox manager <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/08/dick-williams-87.html">Dick Williams</a>. Andrews played 18 games over the final 2 months of the season. He also played 2 games each in the ALCS and the World Series.<br /><br />There was a ruckus during that World Series, when owner Charlie Finley tried to fire Andrews after making 2 errors in 1 game. The commissioner forced Finley to reinstate Andrews, but he was subsequently released in November, ending his major-league career.<br /><br />Andrews played 123 games in Japan during 1975, then retired.<br /><br />His younger brother Rob Andrews played for the Astros and Giants from 1975-79.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-514426675566670499.post-85604173501912402512018-06-10T20:41:00.000-04:002018-06-10T22:08:25.069-04:00Felix Millan (#241)Here is Braves' 2B Felix Millan. 1968 is the year he finally nailed down a starting job, after some brief playing time in '66 and '67.<br /><br />"The Kitten" began the season as the team's starting 2nd-sacker in 1968. By mid-June, last year's starter (<a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2014/04/woody-woodward-476.html">Woody Woodward</a>) was traded away to the Reds in the 6-player <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2017/01/clay-carroll-412.html">Clay Carroll</a>-for-<a href="http://1966topps.blogspot.com/2013/08/milt-pappas-105.html">Milt Pappas</a> deal, leaving plenty of playing time for Millan, who started 143 games while posting a .289 batting average.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKAj1cRI6Ak/Wx2_YGw74TI/AAAAAAAAMOU/G9tK9KV5NpUOMsljIXJCq81lyaTYlELsQCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BFelix%2BMillan%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1118" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKAj1cRI6Ak/Wx2_YGw74TI/AAAAAAAAMOU/G9tK9KV5NpUOMsljIXJCq81lyaTYlELsQCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BFelix%2BMillan%2B%2528f%2529.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntJTR8H5dzI/Wx2_XAtynjI/AAAAAAAAMOQ/Q39ZH3CuZ-IfTj1cmQ85O-QUBiFrOw6-gCLcBGAs/s1600/1968%2BFelix%2BMillan%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntJTR8H5dzI/Wx2_XAtynjI/AAAAAAAAMOQ/Q39ZH3CuZ-IfTj1cmQ85O-QUBiFrOw6-gCLcBGAs/s400/1968%2BFelix%2BMillan%2B%2528r%2529.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br />Felix continued his fine play for four more seasons with the Braves. He made the All-Star team every year from 1969-71, and won Gold Gloves in 1969 and 1972. He also hit a career-high .310 in 1970.<br /><br />After the 1972 season he was traded to the Mets with pitcher George Stone for pitchers Gary Gentry and <a href="http://1968topps.blogspot.com/2010/04/danny-frisella-191.html">Danny Frisella</a>. Millan played for the Mets for 5 seasons, the first 4 as their regular 2nd baseman.<br /><br />His final season was 1977. Felix started the year as the regular 2nd baseman, but by mid-May was alternating with Lenny Randle, Doug Flynn, and Joel Youngblood. Millan started 81 games that year, but at age 33 with his batting average dropping 35 points from the previous season, the Mets decided to go with Flynn for the following season.<br /><br />Millan played in Japan from 1978-80. After winning the batting title in 1979, he had a bad year in '80 and was released after the season.Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.com0